Here

Just letting the blogosphere know that life has been crazy around here this week. "Crazy" translates to messy, busy, loud, and hard. Our Livs has been one unhappy girl since late Sunday night. She threw-up that night and then started running a relentless fever which finally let up on Wednesday morning. I could not keep up with it, even when giving her the good old Tylenol/Motrin double punch. As soon as the fever abated the poor thing started losing it all out the bottom end. We are on day 3 of this and her sweet baby bum cheeks are soooo red and sore. And to top it off she has a splotchy rash all over her abdomen which started yesterday morning. I don't think it is bothering her at all but it still looks pretty sad. My dad (and dr. for all my immediate health woes) told me not to worry about the rash--that it's a common side affect with gastrointestinal troubles. He thinks Livs has a virus that is just working its way through her system.

at the park last night. a happy moment from our sweet baby Livs. we dragged her along with us on an evening walk. the kids and I were dying to get out and play in the gorgeous weather.


The babe has been sleeping much better since the fever went away but she is still quite needy and really does not want to give me much (or actually any) freedom. We have a date night at the temple planned for tonight and I keep thinking we'll have to cancel our plans. I really don't want to--I would love to be there tonight. I have been feeling it all week long--the need to be there, to write names on the prayer roll (so many beautiful, obedient loved ones who need blessings of healing both physically and emotionally), to remember the blessings I've been promised and the covenants I have made, to feel quiet and calm and very still, and to feel the closeness of the Lord. I hope my baby will cooperate with our plans.


**It is now 9:45 and we are home from our date night. Olivia woke from her afternoon nap in a happier mood than I've seen all week. I was so relieved. We did delay our plans some and opted for a late start so we could get Livs to bed and asleep for the night before we left. It meant we couldn't make our scheduled session but we had plenty of time to do initiatory work instead--something I always love doing. We hit the grocery store together on our way home. Classic date night move for us--I swear we do that all the time lately!

It was a good night.

Whimsy

A manicure is good for:

1) Dressing up a date night (which Joe and I had on Thursday--the exact reason I decided to paint my nails in the first place)
2) Feeling sassy as I type on the computer





Things that are not good for a manicure:

1) Cleaning the inside of my car
2) Swimming laps
3) Washing bottles and dishes all throughout the day
4) Slicing my thumb open while opening a can of refried beans
5) Changing poopie diapers
6) Bathing kids

Oh well--my purple nails were fun for the 24 hours they lasted. And at least they were free (shoddy from painting them myself, but free :)

Maroon

I discovered Olivia playing with/gnawing on my shoes after lunch yesterday (not an uncommon thing--she is obsessed. It's gross, but they keep her happy).

I saw her in the corner and realized it was suddenly a very maroon spot in my house with my shoes, cardigan and Liv's shirt all gathered in one place. If you asked me point blank I don't think I would even admit to liking that color. And yet the evidence clearly states otherwise. OK, I do like it. I mean I wear those shoes all the time so I must...

And that mohawk on Livs? It stayed for hours. She had grape juice (and some cheese and yogurt) in her hair after lunch and washing it out afterward resulted in that hairdo. Who knew grapes could work like hairspray on baby soft hair? I loved it.

Thinking

I like this look for me--meaning the bangs (and the adorable kids surrounding me, of course). I keep thinking about trying them again but 1) they drove me crazy every day. I couldn't wait to be home and done with the day so I could pin them up and off my forehead. 2) I don't think bangs would look good with my currently very short hair.

So, you can see how I am just thinking...

And doesn't this pic (from April 2008) just capture spring so well? Can't wait to spy some tulips in bloom. Or anything really!

Remembering the Sun

Our last big adventure before heading home last weekend included a fun little hike to a red rock hill and cavern like lava tube. We hit the canyon between conference sessions on Saturday with my parents, Ben and Max in tow. Did I mention that my hubby flew back down to us on Friday night and rescued me from single parenthood?

Starting out on the Butterfly Trail


We happened upon this lava tube

and my kids, Joseph and Grandpa Sherm were down inside it within a matter of minutes.

See the rocky hill in the background?

In this pic the kids are halfway up it.

And here they are at the top!
Cares informed us that she used up all her "energies" on each part of the hike and by the time she reached the car at the end she only had a "teeny tiny bit of energies left."

We got home last night and woke up to quite a yucky day outside today. Wet, gray and cold. I got hailed on running out to the car after volunteering in Bentley's classroom this afternoon. But then again this is typical April weather around here.

I am definitely missing the sun after our 10 day indulgence down south. My goal each day was to wear the kids out from running and climbing and swimming and hiking and breathing in tons of fresh air and basking in the spring sun's warmth. It worked. And managed to wear me out each day too--but it felt so good. I started some swim training for this summer's triathlon and it was such fun. Back in my swim team days (waaaaay back) I hated swimming laps in the early morning hours and trying so hard to keep up with my team mates during workouts. Now I just swim as many laps as I please at any pace I want--which makes me push myself just enough to really feel it but enjoy it too. My mom describes it as very "Zen" exercising and I would have to agree.

All About Eggs

This year Bentley and Caroline each dyed a dozen eggs. It was fun to watch them draw on each egg with their crayons and then carefully choose a color to dye it in.

The Egg Hunt

Bentley found a well hidden golf ball--at least it matched the brightly colored eggs!

We held our egg hunt on Saturday morning, a new tradition we are trying out in the hopes of keeping Easter Sunday more spiritually focused. I think it was all but lost on Bentley and Cares--they kept asking if the easter bunny would also hide eggs at our home on Sunday--and this was after we had already finished the egg hunt in St George. Hmmmm, I think just one hunt each year kiddos!

Reminds me of these wise words from Jim Gaffigan...

Bubble Fun